The Tampa Bay Rays have responded to the letter from Pinellas County Fee chair Kathleen Peters, which insisted the Rays should both point out in writing that they intend to maneuver ahead below the Settlement as executed, or present a clearer Discover of Termination no later than December 1, 2024.
Within the Rays response, President Matt Silverman admits the brand new stadium deal stays “in impact” — basically confirming they haven’t formally terminated the brand new stadium deal, regardless of their insistence they’ll not afford it each verbally and in writing — however stops in need of assembly the county’s calls for.
Earlier than attending to the requested response, Silverman first addresses claims made by the Fee which have painted the Rays in a nasty gentle, however fails to carry new info to the desk.
Key takeaway: It’s one other poorly worded letter with no new info
Let’s take the letter one paragraph at a time.
In her earlier letter, Commissioner Peters had referenced a dialog between Commissioner Scott and Rays co-President, Brian Auld, the place a public assertion of help for the brand new stadium deal was requested however not acquired. Silverman considerably disputes that declare, saying “Auld didn’t waver from our dedication to the brand new ballpark challenge,” however he doesn’t tackle the allegations from Peters.
Subsequent, Silverman addresses the County declare that the Rays have been violating “spirit of our new ballpark agreements” by taking part in the 2025 season in Tampa. The settlement says that if they’re pressured out of their stadium by an occasion reminiscent of a hurricane they need to make each effort to play elsewhere within the County, and provided that that’s not potential would they search for a Hillsborough County web site. Silverman says the Rays had adopted that course of, however he doesn’t spell out simply how the Rays got here to get rid of various Pinellas County websites.
Lastly, Silverman acknowledges that the Rays had certainly negotiated below the presumption the brand new stadium challenge might afford delays — reminiscent of a possible 2030 completion date for the brand new ballpark — however reiterates their claims that the group wouldn’t have signed on to the brand new stadium challenge in the event that they thought the county’s approvals couldn’t be accomplished earlier than the November elections.
One may observe that intentions usually are not a part of a authorized doc, which is what leads Silverman to his conclusion, stating, “In response to your query relating to the standing of the varied agreements, they’re in impact till a celebration terminates or outdoors dates are reached. The Rays have fulfilled its obligations to this point and proceed to attend for selections and actions by the Metropolis of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County.”
What can we study from the Rays letter?
First, and foremost till we hear in any other case, the Rays haven’t formally terminated the brand new stadium settlement, regardless of their frequent claims the deal can not proceed resulting from an absence of funds.
As an alternative, the Rays clearly intend to power the Metropolis or County to set off the automated termination clause first.
The federal government would probably set off computerized termination by failing to begin the bonds inside 30 days of the Rays assembly their stipulations to obtain the bond funds; these steps usually are not due till March 31, 2025 and are coated intimately on this earlier article. Accordingly, the Metropolis and County is probably not contractually obligated to situation the bonds till the top of April 2025.
The County meets once more on December 17, 2024 and the Metropolis Council meets once more on January 9, 2025. Whether or not these conferences lead the elected officers to approve the bonds, request authorities workers pursue a settlement, or inform the Rays to take a hike stays to be seen.
Second, we are able to see the continued pattern of the Rays not providing very clear info in writing, failing to deal with the varied speaking factors head on. As an alternative of claiming the Rays are in or out of the brand new stadium deal, they are saying the authorized doc is “in impact.” They declare that Auld “didn’t waver” but it surely’s not clear what dedication the the challenge he confirmed.
Finally, talking in obscure generalities protects the Rays from having made any agency dedication in a method or one other. It’s a method the group has lengthy employed — you may recall the phrases “Tampa Bay” didn’t seem on the Rays jersey from 2008-2023 — and so they seem to proceed to suppose it serves their pursuits, even when it incessantly results in frustration for everybody else concerned.
